Horn dB's

[bikerskez]

Hello all and Merry Christmas,
I'm thinking of changing the horn on my sv650sk3 because i just don't think it's loud enough, it doesn't draw enough attention when you need it to. My question, does anybody know the dB level of the standard one that's fitted so i can make sure i buy a louder one and also as long as i buy another one that runs off 12 volts, is it a straight swap?

[timwilky]

Firstly your horn works by switching the negative return. It does not use an earth return as found on most car type horns. So if you are simply going to buy a horn please be careful.

I and many on this forum have used Fiamm horns. they are"low tone" but a few have mounted a pair of low/high for extra noise

[bikerskez]

Thanks for replying, i am intending to buy a motorcycle horn but wanted to make sure the one i get is louder and that it is just a case of swapping them over, thanks again and ride safe.

[Viney]

Thanks for replying, i am intending to buy a motorcycle horn but wanted to make sure the one i get is louder and that it is just a case of swapping them over, thanks again and ride safe.All motorcycle horns are poo. You really need a Pair of the above mentioned FIAMMS. Mount them on the top radiator mounting bolts and bend the brackets so that the horns miss the forks when turning. You will need to wire a relay in there as well, but its really not that difficult.

Just remember that +3db is twice as loud..so 103db will be twice as loud as 100db etc etc.

[Grinch]

The Fiamm horns will require a relay to be put in for the extra power they need.

Its a 4-pin Relay looks like this -


http://upload5.postimage.org/54231_fe9c71eb13aad1d9e9acdbee2f726129/relayswitch.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/54231/photo_hosting.html)

[northwind]

And don't use the relays they sell in Halfords, they're mince- I've used them for my grips and for the horns, and never had one last 3 months. DOn't know whether it's the wet, or the vibrations, but they just don't seem to last. One of them basically fell to pieces. So I use the ones Maplin sells now, they're basically the same but more solidly built.

IIRC a pair of FIAMMS is about 132db at 1 metre. That could be nonsense :) But don't just go by volume, the h-lo horns give a penetrating dissonance that's harder to miss. I had a Stobel Nautilus- too big for me, never fitted it- which was louder in terms of sound pressure, but wasn't as noticable when used.

FIAMM do a neat set of flat horns too, as well as their various humungous air horns. Bit quieter, but smaller. I wouldn't go back to the standard horn.

[Grinch]

I got mine relay from some 'other' car accessory place... its now on its second bike and over 3 years old.

Here's one on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-V-Split-Charge-Relay-4-Pin-70-AMP-70A-12V-NEW_W0QQitemZ280063476337QQihZ018QQcategoryZ15329Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), though I never paid that much...

[Razor]

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too ;)
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=STB-MAG&variation=&aitem=24&mitem=30

[the white rabbit]

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too ;)
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=STB-MAG&variation=&aitem=24&mitem=30

Thats funny I've just been fitting one, unfinished as lost a spade connector and dont have another :evil:

Loud enough certainly. Ive heard they fail in wet though so make sure your trumpet is angled accordingly :wink:

Was the polarity of the connectors important? I think not.

[Razor]

My trumpet points downward, dunno if that's right. I'm on my second one because I managed to smash the first one :oops:

[the white rabbit]

My trumpet points downward, dunno if that's right. I'm on my second one because I managed to smash the first one :oops:

Depends I guess whether spray or rain or a bow wave are the most worry. Personally I hedged my bets and put the trumpet sideways :lol:

What about the connector polarity :?:

[Razor]

What about the connector polarity :?:


Wasn't an issue fitting to my curvy.

[bikerskez]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[amarko5]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

they sell these in halfords :wink: i think its 11.99

well mine was 6 months ago, and dont need a relay on a TDM and the wires dont matter which way round :lol:

P.S. did i mention they are rather loud :wink:

[Razor]

They are fantastically loud. I had to swerve to avoid getting into a people mover head first and gave her a blast. Very apologetic waving of hands and mouthing what looked like "Sorry I didn't see you!"

[northwind]

You also get one of the secret pleasures of the loud horn owner- watching the MOT man jump when he tests it :)

[Mark_h]

Nearly dropped mine once when I jumped after I hit the horn button when wheeling it out of a garage. Very very loud in an empty garage when you're not expecting it. Only slight problem is perhaps people will be looking for the ten ton truck and not the little motorbike when hooting and a gentle toot of thanks can be seen as somewhat aggressive. Will always be mod #1 on any bike I get.

Apparently if you fit an R6 throttle tube your horn beeps faster :) (see r6 thread)

[hovis]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.


how much was the postage?

[Razor]

You also get one of the secret pleasures of the loud horn owner- watching the MOT man jump when he tests it :)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I'll warn him next time, he's as old as God's dog and I don't want his death on my hands :oops:

[hovis]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

they sell these in halfords :wink: i think its 11.99 not on the website

well mine was 6 months ago, and dont need a relay on a TDM and the wires dont matter which way round :lol:

P.S. did i mention they are rather loud :wink:

[hovis]

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too ;)
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=STB-MAG&variation=&aitem=24&mitem=30

£5 postage :?

[carlos]

Flippin' heck hovi5, you think of modding something else on that bike?

Before you know it there'll be nothing left of the bike you bought originally except a pile of removed/swapped bits on the garage shelf :lol:

[hovis]

DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT

[Baph]

Flippin' heck hovi5, you think of modding something else on that bike?

Before you know it there'll be nothing left of the bike you bought originally except a pile of removed/swapped bits on the garage shelf :lol:

My neighbours wife said that to me the other day, and I don't think I've done that much, there's still stuff on the list... :oops:

[hovis]

Flippin' heck hovi5, you think of modding something else on that bike?

Before you know it there'll be nothing left of the bike you bought originally except a pile of removed/swapped bits on the garage shelf :lol:

My neighbours wife said that to me the other day, and I don't think I've done that much, there's still stuff on the list... :oops:
whats on the list? :?

[the white rabbit]

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too ;)
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=STB-MAG&variation=&aitem=24&mitem=30

£5 postage :?

Well got to halfords then if it will cost you less than £5 in time, petrol and them not having it! I got mine form NN, but thats because Iw as ordering things from him you cant get in Halfords.

[Baph]

whats on the list? :?
Usual stuff really.

A new 'zorst (toying with the idea of 2 cans), and mod-ing the pillion foot pegs perhaps.
Front end GSXR.
I'm still looking for a decent LOUD horn.
I have a fender extender that still needs fiiting, as do the R&G's.
A couple of bit's of trickery that I won't go into detail on, and a couple of mods need finishing.

Mind is a bit numb at the moment, so that's about all I can think of, but there's more lurking somewhere at the back of my grey stuff.

[wyrdness]

I fitted one of the below, no relay needed. Nice and loud too ;)
http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=STB-MAG&variation=&aitem=24&mitem=30

Thats funny I've just been fitting one, unfinished as lost a spade connector and dont have another :evil:

Loud enough certainly. Ive heard they fail in wet though so make sure your trumpet is angled accordingly :wink:

Was the polarity of the connectors important? I think not.

I got one from Nippy Normans after reading recommendations on t595.net. They're a good choice as they're plenty loud enough and are a straight swap for the standard horn. I did manage to fill it with water when washing the bike and had to dry it out by poking twists of paper towel inside the trumpet. I've re-angled it now with the trumpet facing downwards. It might be a good idea to put a small plastic bag, or piece of clingfilm, over the trumpet when washing the bike.

[Luckypants]

I did manage to fill it with water when washing the bike and had to dry it out by poking twists of paper towel inside the trumpet. I've re-angled it now with the trumpet facing downwards. It might be a good idea to put a small plastic bag, or piece of clingfilm, over the trumpet when washing the bike.My Fiamms are mounted on radiator bolts and are protected by the fairing pretty much. Trumpet angled down slightly so that helps too.





YAY 1000 posts!

[LegendaryFive0]

Hey, you want a loud horn, from what this says, it should be good for you.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/2137/106/

It's probably the loudest you'll find to fit on the bike.

[Razor]

Bulky and only a bit louder...

[northwind]

It's humungous, the Nautilus... And in real terms not that much louder.

[bikerskez]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.


how much was the postage?


I think it was about for £4 bringing the total to about £16, I know i could have got it cheaper a Halfords but as usual i found out they sell them there after it had arrived.

[northwind]

Oh yeah, the Nautilus is great fun if you set it off without having it bolted down- the torque reaction sends it sliding around the floor :) When I sold mine it went on EBay "Used once, some scratches on left side" :roll:

[hovis]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.


how much was the postage?


I think it was about for £4 bringing the total to about £16, I know i could have got it cheaper a Halfords but as usual i found out they sell them there after it had arrived.

did you take off your lowers to fit it?..

[the white rabbit]

I think the nautilus may need a relay? Maybe not on the SV but I do know the fit isnt as straightforward on the GS, possibly a lack of resistance with then Nautilus. Ok, probably a red herring for the SV :?

[bikerskez]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.


how much was the postage?


I think it was about for £4 bringing the total to about £16, I know i could have got it cheaper a Halfords but as usual i found out they sell them there after it had arrived.

did you take off your lowers to fit it?..

Just the left hand side, i used the two metal brackets that came with horn to extend the one thats already fitted, i positioned it so it is pointing outboard and slightly down.

[mattSV]

Just fitted a magnum on my SV1000 _ had to -adapt' the original bracket by bending it outwards a bit, and adding a right angle bracket to the end, but the magnum fits in a treat - connectors go straight on with no need for a relay.

Bllody loud it is :twisted:

[hovis]

Thanks to all that offered advise, I've gone for the one from Nippynormans, straight swap rather than having to put resisters in. Thanks again to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.


how much was the postage?


I think it was about for £4 bringing the total to about £16, I know i could have got it cheaper a Halfords but as usual i found out they sell them there after it had arrived.

did you take off your lowers to fit it?..

Just the left hand side, i used the two metal brackets that came with horn to extend the one thats already fitted, i positioned it so it is pointing outboard and slightly down.

could you have done it with the lowers on.do you think?

[bikerskez]

hovi5,

No way mate, you'll see when you do it, the new horn is about 3-4 times bigger.

[hovis]

hovi5,

No way mate, you'll see when you do it, the new horn is about 3-4 times bigger.

:? fair enough

the horn is not on halfords website & i have not had chance to go there yet.

but it is on my list of" to do "

[Baph]

My new horn (I forget what I bought at the moment) is burried in my pillion seat as I haven't had the time to mount it properly (hopefully tomorrow).

It's still louder than stock!